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You vs You: 12 Ways to Kick Your Own Ass and Win
The greatest battles we face are with ourselves
In You vs You , author Todd Cahill starts with a simple As people strive for any improvement in their lives—whether it's more income, a better relationship, a promotion, a bigger business, or a better body—the most important battles they will face are against themselves. People invite problems into their lives through poor choices, apathy, indecision, arrogance, anxiety, selfishness, and other traits they would rather not discuss but must be addressed.
In this valuable book, Cahill shares what he has learned about these battles that either keep people from success and significance or usher them to victory. As a life coach and leadership trainer, he has taught thousands of people these lessons, and many of them are now experiencing a level of personal achievement, relational abundance, and financial freedom they never thought possible.
People often self-sabotage if they're not mindful, wise, and willing. Cahill reinforces the idea that readers can choose today to fight against who they once were (or are) and become who they are made to be. You vs You is about that choice and the challenging, rewarding quest that ensues.
In You vs You , author Todd Cahill starts with a simple As people strive for any improvement in their lives—whether it's more income, a better relationship, a promotion, a bigger business, or a better body—the most important battles they will face are against themselves. People invite problems into their lives through poor choices, apathy, indecision, arrogance, anxiety, selfishness, and other traits they would rather not discuss but must be addressed.
In this valuable book, Cahill shares what he has learned about these battles that either keep people from success and significance or usher them to victory. As a life coach and leadership trainer, he has taught thousands of people these lessons, and many of them are now experiencing a level of personal achievement, relational abundance, and financial freedom they never thought possible.
People often self-sabotage if they're not mindful, wise, and willing. Cahill reinforces the idea that readers can choose today to fight against who they once were (or are) and become who they are made to be. You vs You is about that choice and the challenging, rewarding quest that ensues.
184 pages, Hardcover
Published February 19, 2019
115 people are currently reading
2376 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
February 20, 2019
I like the tone and format of this book. It's not just inspirational but it is also practical as it offers insights into daily personal struggles and how we can overcome them.
I love the quotes shared at the beginning of every chapter too.
Thanks Netgalley for the eARC. One thing readers are guaranteed with this book is that they will relate to every chapter and situation because the author's tone is as conversational and practical as can be.
I love the quotes shared at the beginning of every chapter too.
Thanks Netgalley for the eARC. One thing readers are guaranteed with this book is that they will relate to every chapter and situation because the author's tone is as conversational and practical as can be.
August 8, 2020
I've read a lot of self-help books, and this one isn't ground-breaking, but presents the subject of self-improvement in an easy to understand and easy to read way.
Todd sets out 12 battles we have - some may not be applicable, but you can pick and choose which battles you want or need to do. The battle is with yourself, not other people. At the end of each chapter are some exercises to do to help you take action.
It's not a long book, and it's easy to work through. The hardest thing is to take action.
I enjoyed how this book was set out, and I think it's a book I will come back to again.
Todd sets out 12 battles we have - some may not be applicable, but you can pick and choose which battles you want or need to do. The battle is with yourself, not other people. At the end of each chapter are some exercises to do to help you take action.
It's not a long book, and it's easy to work through. The hardest thing is to take action.
I enjoyed how this book was set out, and I think it's a book I will come back to again.
June 19, 2019
A workbook for life and all of its complexities.
I've read a plethora of books in this genre and they tend to say and ask you to do the same things. Where this book differentiated itself for me is how it makes you hold yourself accountable at end of every chapter through exercise. In order to do the exercises you have to pay attention to what you read, and consciously make an effort to at least consider it. These exercises are great for people in your circle who you want to grow and heal with. I think that's what makes me love this book. It's a great conversation starter, date idea or even just to bond with family. Todd doesn't set out to reinvent the wheel. No, he sets out to repurpose it. Take this book a chapter at a time. Digest and assess what you read and do and then comeback to it. That's my best advice. Don't expect anything other than what's in front of you (and try to apply that to life as well).
I've read a plethora of books in this genre and they tend to say and ask you to do the same things. Where this book differentiated itself for me is how it makes you hold yourself accountable at end of every chapter through exercise. In order to do the exercises you have to pay attention to what you read, and consciously make an effort to at least consider it. These exercises are great for people in your circle who you want to grow and heal with. I think that's what makes me love this book. It's a great conversation starter, date idea or even just to bond with family. Todd doesn't set out to reinvent the wheel. No, he sets out to repurpose it. Take this book a chapter at a time. Digest and assess what you read and do and then comeback to it. That's my best advice. Don't expect anything other than what's in front of you (and try to apply that to life as well).
June 20, 2019
I loved this book. I loved the workbook part of it and since I had it on my tablet I typed up the question and answer part so I could do the work and pass it on to the people I work with. I work with Addicts and they are a hard bunch to help image a different life. This book gave me lots of ideas to help them and to help myself. There were so many time, I felt like it was simple but i had never looked at things like it before. Changed my life and changed my job. Thank you.
March 3, 2019
I received this book from NetGalley (thank you!).
I was particularly interested in reading this book as I am currently working on my dissertation about mindset. I really enjoyed Cahill's voice and engaging tone throughout the text. The author touched upon several aspects of determination and grit that my research has found as well, so I found myself nodding to the work several times. Overall, this is an enjoyable book to help people get out of their own way.
I was particularly interested in reading this book as I am currently working on my dissertation about mindset. I really enjoyed Cahill's voice and engaging tone throughout the text. The author touched upon several aspects of determination and grit that my research has found as well, so I found myself nodding to the work several times. Overall, this is an enjoyable book to help people get out of their own way.
March 23, 2019
Twelve personal internal battles and the mindset traps that keep us from overcoming them. From winning. From moving forward.
I’m not usually a self-help type book person. Having read a few, however, I can say this is less sappy and more practical than others in the genre. It’s written in a straightforward way, easily accessible with simple suggestions one could put in immediate practice.
Kindle ARC giveaway thanks. 🤗
I’m not usually a self-help type book person. Having read a few, however, I can say this is less sappy and more practical than others in the genre. It’s written in a straightforward way, easily accessible with simple suggestions one could put in immediate practice.
Kindle ARC giveaway thanks. 🤗
Read
April 22, 2021No new ground broken here. Same advice I’ve read in many other books. This author is also hyper focused on men in the workplace, not that women can’t learn something from it — lord knows we’ve been figuring out our own way for generations. But there are better books out there for women. Those books might even use a successful woman for an anecdote or quote, something this author failed to do.
March 24, 2019
All these "self help" books are all the same. If you want to read something that will truly bring you joy and happiness, I recommend reading a book called The Bible.
April 14, 2019
I recieved a kindle copy of this book from a GoodReads Giveaway. True confession: I initially signed up because the author and I share a last name and I thought that was neat. However, I did really end up enjoying the book. I spread each chapter out over a period of time and appreciated the delineation.
Each of the twelve things are a chapter:
Battle 1: You vs Your Persona
Battle 2: You vs Your Success
Battle 3: You vs Your Dreams
Battle 4: You vs Your Routine
Battle 5: You vs Your Calendar
Battle 6: You vs Your Finances
Battle 7: You vs Your Freedom
Battle 8: You vs Your Promises
Battle 9: You vs Your Health
Battle 10: You vs Your Relationships
Battle 11: You vs Your Knowledge
Battle 12: You vs Your Future
The book offers an evidence-based (crucially important!) view of tackling aspects of our life that may get in our own way of want or need for improvement. I got a lot out of the calendar chapter, and especially the tome to "Ruthlessly eliminate hurry from your life." This chapter was very mindfulness-focused, which I appreciate and have been working to practice. There were nuggets sprinkled in each subject from author's I'd read before - Rubin, Gladwell, Carreyrou (Bad Blood/Theranos Scandal), Hawking, and many others, as well as anecdotal stories that made the points flow better. Overall, this one was a good literary surprise and thought-provoking. I had no idea who this author was before reading and am surprised he's not more famous from the information divulged here and there throughout the chapters. If you're looking for a major self-help overhaul, this would be a good book to work thorough workbook style and answer the questions posed along the way to drive meaningful change.
Each of the twelve things are a chapter:
Battle 1: You vs Your Persona
Battle 2: You vs Your Success
Battle 3: You vs Your Dreams
Battle 4: You vs Your Routine
Battle 5: You vs Your Calendar
Battle 6: You vs Your Finances
Battle 7: You vs Your Freedom
Battle 8: You vs Your Promises
Battle 9: You vs Your Health
Battle 10: You vs Your Relationships
Battle 11: You vs Your Knowledge
Battle 12: You vs Your Future
The book offers an evidence-based (crucially important!) view of tackling aspects of our life that may get in our own way of want or need for improvement. I got a lot out of the calendar chapter, and especially the tome to "Ruthlessly eliminate hurry from your life." This chapter was very mindfulness-focused, which I appreciate and have been working to practice. There were nuggets sprinkled in each subject from author's I'd read before - Rubin, Gladwell, Carreyrou (Bad Blood/Theranos Scandal), Hawking, and many others, as well as anecdotal stories that made the points flow better. Overall, this one was a good literary surprise and thought-provoking. I had no idea who this author was before reading and am surprised he's not more famous from the information divulged here and there throughout the chapters. If you're looking for a major self-help overhaul, this would be a good book to work thorough workbook style and answer the questions posed along the way to drive meaningful change.
July 20, 2020
let me be honest with you, it is not only recently that I started to read non-fiction books. i have grown accustomed to much beloved fiction all my life because i read just to escape. but now with things gradually changing, so does my reading taste. i have only acquired reading about less than 20 self-help books at this point in my life so i don’t really have any foundation to make any comparison and put anything on a balance scale. now that is out of the way, i can finally go on gushing on why i like this book!!! :--)
i relate to a lot of the self-inflicted battles Todd Cahill discussed because like all people (or most, anyway) living in the millennial world, we are often subjected to pressure on all kinds of things — relationships, money, the future, productivity. so often we tend to ignore distress calls because the toxicities of our daily living have already become a norm that we are already are used to the nauseating aftertaste of everything.
this book grapples on the topic of building self-awareness and focusing on that mentality to better handle life. i know that every battle depends on the situation our crisis is crying for but ultimately it all comes down to one common denominator. surprise, surprise, it turns out to be our own very self. all that to say, suffering is based on personal judgement.
all in all, i think that the book made me realize a lot of things — as cliché and repetitive as that sounds. there are also sections in the book wherein it acts as some kind of a mini workbook in which it asks certain questions that relate to a certain problem and it provides you a blank to write your answer on. it challenges you to think outside of the box and answer honestly.
one of the best self-help books i’ve read, in my opinion.
i relate to a lot of the self-inflicted battles Todd Cahill discussed because like all people (or most, anyway) living in the millennial world, we are often subjected to pressure on all kinds of things — relationships, money, the future, productivity. so often we tend to ignore distress calls because the toxicities of our daily living have already become a norm that we are already are used to the nauseating aftertaste of everything.
this book grapples on the topic of building self-awareness and focusing on that mentality to better handle life. i know that every battle depends on the situation our crisis is crying for but ultimately it all comes down to one common denominator. surprise, surprise, it turns out to be our own very self. all that to say, suffering is based on personal judgement.
all in all, i think that the book made me realize a lot of things — as cliché and repetitive as that sounds. there are also sections in the book wherein it acts as some kind of a mini workbook in which it asks certain questions that relate to a certain problem and it provides you a blank to write your answer on. it challenges you to think outside of the box and answer honestly.
one of the best self-help books i’ve read, in my opinion.
June 13, 2019
My three positives and a negative, because the world needs more positivity:
+ Cahill is non-nonsense. I adored his straight, no BS talk. My objective is to tell the whole truth—that while we all face battles we didn’t bring on ourselves, the majority of our problems are just that: our problems. We invited them into our lives through poor choices, apathy, indecision, arrogance, anxiety, selfishness, and other traits we’d rather not discuss. Hear, hear!
+ Cahill provides a clear structure for tackling each topic: return - isolating the real issue; redefine - thinking about differently, and repeat - reflection and actionable choices to break the cycle. The subject matters are broad enough (Success, Routine, Finances, Health) that every reader will be able to relate. I particularly appreciated the repeat portion - questions on how you will alter your habits and thinking
+ Cahill intersperses research into every chapter giving more weight to obvious common sense
- I'm by no means an expert on self-help books - but at ~175 pages, clearly, this is not for those looking for deep, comprehensive support. That said, it's my kind of book - to the point, asking enough questions to get me thinking
Honestly, I wavered between four and five stars. In the end, I rounded up. I felt it was a cheap way to get several personal coaching sessions.
Read this if you are looking for self-help lite and enjoy thinking about human behavior.
+ Cahill is non-nonsense. I adored his straight, no BS talk. My objective is to tell the whole truth—that while we all face battles we didn’t bring on ourselves, the majority of our problems are just that: our problems. We invited them into our lives through poor choices, apathy, indecision, arrogance, anxiety, selfishness, and other traits we’d rather not discuss. Hear, hear!
+ Cahill provides a clear structure for tackling each topic: return - isolating the real issue; redefine - thinking about differently, and repeat - reflection and actionable choices to break the cycle. The subject matters are broad enough (Success, Routine, Finances, Health) that every reader will be able to relate. I particularly appreciated the repeat portion - questions on how you will alter your habits and thinking
+ Cahill intersperses research into every chapter giving more weight to obvious common sense
- I'm by no means an expert on self-help books - but at ~175 pages, clearly, this is not for those looking for deep, comprehensive support. That said, it's my kind of book - to the point, asking enough questions to get me thinking
Honestly, I wavered between four and five stars. In the end, I rounded up. I felt it was a cheap way to get several personal coaching sessions.
Read this if you are looking for self-help lite and enjoy thinking about human behavior.
February 18, 2019
This books is divided into 12 battles that every person faces. It starts with You vs Your Persona and ends with You vs Your Future. Each chapter ends with a few reflection questions to help you isolate the key elements to make effective changes in your life.
This book started scoring points with me right from the start. In the forward, Larry Cohn says, "Simply put, you are involved in everything you do. And thus, you are responsible for the decisions you have made." I am a firm believer in the fact that things do not happen to me; they happen because of me. I love the idea of taking an active role in making the changes I want to see in my life. A common theme in this book is how often Cahill talks about the failures in his life. I like reading about other people's failure, not because I am a mean sadist, but because it reinforces the fact that other people fail sometimes too. It reminds me to not get hung up on my own shortcomings. This book repeatedly forces you to question aspects of your life and guides you in getting where you want to be.
I received a free digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. A more full review is available at https://rianashahid.com/blog/books/yo...
This book started scoring points with me right from the start. In the forward, Larry Cohn says, "Simply put, you are involved in everything you do. And thus, you are responsible for the decisions you have made." I am a firm believer in the fact that things do not happen to me; they happen because of me. I love the idea of taking an active role in making the changes I want to see in my life. A common theme in this book is how often Cahill talks about the failures in his life. I like reading about other people's failure, not because I am a mean sadist, but because it reinforces the fact that other people fail sometimes too. It reminds me to not get hung up on my own shortcomings. This book repeatedly forces you to question aspects of your life and guides you in getting where you want to be.
I received a free digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. A more full review is available at https://rianashahid.com/blog/books/yo...
May 6, 2019
An interesting read and one that helps me learn more about the self-help book world. I come from a background of research and most self-help books have seemed to be based more on the 'blind leading the blind' mentality ie. 'this information which is conveniently vague so as many people as possible will find meaning in it will totally work for you without any facts besides my words to back it up.' This is why, when the author started quoting studies I immediately became very interesting.
Sure, some of the information is pretty basic and if you just use some common sense it is obvious however, that does not mean that the book is any less valuable. I do wish that this book was structured in a way where I felt I could jump from topic to topic and skip the sections that were of no use to me. I think that the numbers system '12 things' really made me feel like I had to read everything in order.
Although I found this book a little on the common sense side of self-help/realization, I still walked away with some new perspectives and ways to think about my own internal process. It is because of this that I gave it a 3; not mind blowing but definitely worth a skim if you are interested in learning more about studies about you can trick your own hard wiring to achieve your goals.
Sure, some of the information is pretty basic and if you just use some common sense it is obvious however, that does not mean that the book is any less valuable. I do wish that this book was structured in a way where I felt I could jump from topic to topic and skip the sections that were of no use to me. I think that the numbers system '12 things' really made me feel like I had to read everything in order.
Although I found this book a little on the common sense side of self-help/realization, I still walked away with some new perspectives and ways to think about my own internal process. It is because of this that I gave it a 3; not mind blowing but definitely worth a skim if you are interested in learning more about studies about you can trick your own hard wiring to achieve your goals.
May 12, 2019
Cahill is quick and to the point in listing the things that you have to face and redefine within yourself to stop being your own worst enemy when it comes to finding your path and your happiness. He explains each path, lists some of the science behind his reasoning, gives a personal anecdote, and then proceeds to give examples of ways you can work on that specific path for yourself. There are even little writing exercises at the end of each chapter to help you on your way.
I won't say I found it life-changing, but it definitely gave me much to think about and presented some solid ideas that I'm looking forward to exploring further.
Mandatory note: I got my copy through GoodReads' First Reads.
I won't say I found it life-changing, but it definitely gave me much to think about and presented some solid ideas that I'm looking forward to exploring further.
Mandatory note: I got my copy through GoodReads' First Reads.
December 6, 2025
One of my favorite parts of You vs You is when Cahill breaks down the idea of the “Indecisive You.” He explains how hesitation and fear of choosing the wrong path can quietly control your whole life without you ever realizing it. The example he gives about people waiting for the “perfect moment” to start improving their finances, health, or relationships felt incredibly real. What makes the chapter powerful is how he shifts the focus from blaming circumstances to taking ownership. Cahill shows that clarity doesn’t come before action but because of it. That moment really stood out because it’s simple, honest, and immediately applicable: stop waiting, decide, and move. It captures the whole message of the book your biggest competition has always been yourself.
February 14, 2019
You vs You by all mean is not the first self-help book on how to own ourselves, but it is definitely a gem among many.
To the point and engaging, You vs You offers an inner look into 12 aspects in our life started from our persona to our future. Completed with exercise, You vs You is a perfect companion for anyone who would like to do a 'return, redefine, and repeat' in life. Because after all, what is life if not a series of action we take habitually?
4/5
(I received a digital ARC via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.)
To the point and engaging, You vs You offers an inner look into 12 aspects in our life started from our persona to our future. Completed with exercise, You vs You is a perfect companion for anyone who would like to do a 'return, redefine, and repeat' in life. Because after all, what is life if not a series of action we take habitually?
4/5
(I received a digital ARC via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.)
February 28, 2020
I received a copy of this book through Goodreads’ First Reads program. This was a pretty typical example of the motivational/self-help genre. Most of this info I had already encountered in various other books. The author formatted this as an examination of 12 different kinds of life struggles struggles, and concluded each chapter with some study questions to consider and/or journal on. A quick read, but it doesn’t really stand out to me as presenting new information nor different ways of thinking.
February 20, 2019
This book has some nice homespun advice on how to be a better you, framed around a metaphor of 12 "battles" that you continually fight. It's well written, has all the right anecdotes to illustrate the points, and includes exercises at the end of each chapter to help the reader focus on applying the lessons learned in the chapter.
So an easy reading, straightforward book. For some it will be ground-breaking, but it's more likely to be the sort of book that will leave a few little gems amongst otherwise pretty generic content. I suspect that the gems will be different for everybody, which is what makes this book worth reading..
I personally found the insights around learning useful, and especially the three brief exercises at the end of the chapter. They were as simple and revealing as they should be (be hungry, humble and challenging yourself).
So an easy reading, straightforward book. For some it will be ground-breaking, but it's more likely to be the sort of book that will leave a few little gems amongst otherwise pretty generic content. I suspect that the gems will be different for everybody, which is what makes this book worth reading..
I personally found the insights around learning useful, and especially the three brief exercises at the end of the chapter. They were as simple and revealing as they should be (be hungry, humble and challenging yourself).
May 25, 2019
Interesting and thought provoking
The one thing from this book that I will take with me at this precise moment in time is the section about surrounding yourself with people who are going to support you, bring you up, help you, make you/push you to be a better person.
This is one of those books that will give you a different insight depending on when you read it and what is going on in your life at that particular time.
The one thing from this book that I will take with me at this precise moment in time is the section about surrounding yourself with people who are going to support you, bring you up, help you, make you/push you to be a better person.
This is one of those books that will give you a different insight depending on when you read it and what is going on in your life at that particular time.
May 30, 2020
I received a copy of this book provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest opinion.
Get out of your head! 'You vs. You, is a great self help book to really challenge you to stop fighting against yourself. This Is a no non sense straight to the point approach in getting over yourself and learning to apply the best you to win! I thoroughly enjoyed this self help and the authors approach.
A great great, I highly recommend.
Get out of your head! 'You vs. You, is a great self help book to really challenge you to stop fighting against yourself. This Is a no non sense straight to the point approach in getting over yourself and learning to apply the best you to win! I thoroughly enjoyed this self help and the authors approach.
A great great, I highly recommend.
Read
December 20, 2020DNF'd at 60%
This is something that I read back in 2019 (I think), but I never got myself to finish. I'm going through a bit of a purge/end of the year cleaning, so that's why I've decided to "review" this and let go of the book.
From what I remember, this book is well structured, and is easy to read. However, it wasn't really my thing. I think it was a combination of me not really liking the voice of the author/his personal stories, and too much information all at once.
This is something that I read back in 2019 (I think), but I never got myself to finish. I'm going through a bit of a purge/end of the year cleaning, so that's why I've decided to "review" this and let go of the book.
From what I remember, this book is well structured, and is easy to read. However, it wasn't really my thing. I think it was a combination of me not really liking the voice of the author/his personal stories, and too much information all at once.
May 15, 2019
I think this book has some helpful tools to get motivation in your every day life. I like the exercises at the end of each chapter that help you implement those steps and help you make them a reality. I definitely think this will be worth a re-read and that I can apply these steps in my day to day life.
April 2, 2020
Overall, I very much enjoyed this book. It was of the better “self-help” books I’ve read. I enjoyed the questions at true end of each chapter, gave me something to think about and work on. Some parts of the book were too far fetched and I found he started to stray from the purpose of the book.
Working on implementing parts of it into daily life and will share the book with others.
Working on implementing parts of it into daily life and will share the book with others.
November 22, 2020
This book combines reflection and journaling in a way I haven't seen in other personal growth books. It forces you to really be honest with yourself, see the root cause and help you start to overcome the obstacles mentioned. I say start because growth is an ongoing process. Progress is perfection. 10/10 recommend.
March 23, 2019
I really enjoyed this book. I liked how the author broke up twelve different battles we have with ourself and how to overcome them. Nothing ground breaking or earth shattering but a nice inspiration and uplifting read. And we all need uplifting at times.
September 25, 2019
You vs You: 12 Ways to Kick Your Own Ass and Win by Todd Cahill is a self help book. It is short at 175 pages so not a lot of details. I like the quotes at the beginning of the chapters.
I received a copy thru a Goodreads giveaway.
I received a copy thru a Goodreads giveaway.
June 19, 2021
This book is a masterpiece
What could I say about this book? Never a book inspired me like this. Full of sincerity, smartness, and hope. It’s never late for changing ourselves to the best.
Thanks Todd.
What could I say about this book? Never a book inspired me like this. Full of sincerity, smartness, and hope. It’s never late for changing ourselves to the best.
Thanks Todd.
November 26, 2021
This was a very fast read but packed a punch of information on 12 parts of your life. I think the 12 ways the author chose were good and many helpful advice to my life.
I won this book as part of a Goodreads Giveaway for no pressure or requirement to write this review and rate the book.
I won this book as part of a Goodreads Giveaway for no pressure or requirement to write this review and rate the book.
April 9, 2019
Interesting read
April 11, 2019
Great book. Great ideas, great advice for all ages. Shared stuff with Seniors
in high school.
in high school.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews